Ghana Nearly Slipped Into Military Rule Under Akufo-Addo — Nyaho-Tamakloe Reveals

Ghana, according to veteran politician and founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, came dangerously close to experiencing military rule during the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe has made a startling revelation about events under the Akufo-Addo government, claiming that Ghana’s democratic system was at one point under serious threat of being derailed.

According to him, the country narrowly avoided a situation that could have resulted in the military taking control of the affairs of the state.

His comments have reignited debate over the strength of Ghana’s democratic institutions and the political tensions that characterised portions of the Akufo-Addo administration.

‘We Were Close to Losing Democracy’

Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe, a long-standing figure within the NPP, suggested that developments during the previous administration created circumstances in which military intervention could have become a possibility.

He recounted the situation as one of the most worrying periods in Ghana’s recent political history, warning that the country should not take its democratic stability for granted.

While reflecting on the events, he stressed the importance of protecting Ghana’s constitutional order and ensuring that political disagreements do not push the country towards instability.

A Warning From Within the NPP

The revelation is particularly significant because Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe is a prominent founding member of the NPP and has, on several occasions, criticised actions and decisions taken by successive governments led by the party.

His latest comments are therefore likely to attract considerable attention, particularly amid continuing discussions about governance, accountability and the protection of democratic institutions in Ghana.

The veteran politician’s account also raises questions about what exactly transpired behind the scenes during the Akufo-Addo era and how close Ghana may have been to a constitutional crisis.

‘Ghana Must Never Return to Military Rule’

Ghana has experienced several military interventions in its political history, although the country has maintained constitutional democracy since the return to multiparty rule in 1992.

Against this historical background, any suggestion that the country came close to another military takeover is likely to trigger intense public discussion.

Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe’s account serves as a reminder of the fragility of democratic governance and the need for political leaders, institutions and citizens to protect the principles of constitutional rule.

The former NPP stalwart’s revelation is expected to fuel further debate over the Akufo-Addo administration, the political tensions of the period and the measures that were taken—or could have been taken—to prevent Ghana from slipping into another era of military rule.